CLIProxyAPI vs codex-chatgpt-web
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A local proxy server that exposes CLI and web AI accounts as OpenAI, Gemini, or Claude compatible APIs.
Open source · MIT
Lets Codex use your signed-in ChatGPT Web models (including Pro) as its model, without using Codex quota.
The short answer
Choose CLIProxyAPI if you need…
- Developers who already use OpenAI- or Claude-compatible tools and want to route them to other providers
- People who hold several CLI accounts and want one local endpoint for them
- Users comfortable editing configuration files and running a server
Choose codex-chatgpt-web if you need…
- Developers who already pay for ChatGPT and want to use its web models inside Codex
- People who want Codex's model picker to include ChatGPT Web models, including Pro versions where the account exposes them
- Users comfortable running an unofficial browser-based integration on a trusted personal machine
Side-by-side
| CLIProxyAPI | codex-chatgpt-web | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 57.3k | 15.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Download the app | Download the app |
| Main language | Go | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 6 days ago |
What each one is
CLIProxyAPI
CLIProxyAPI is a proxy server written in Go. It takes accounts from several AI providers, such as Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, Grok, and Muse, and presents them through OpenAI, Gemini, or Claude compatible interfaces. Tools that already speak one of those formats can then send requests to it instead of to the provider directly. The README describes it as a way to use multiple CLI accounts locally through any compatible client or SDK.
codex-chatgpt-web
This is a launcher app that connects Codex, a coding assistant, to the ChatGPT Web models available on your own ChatGPT account. Messages run through your signed-in ChatGPT web session, so they count against that account's ChatGPT limits rather than Codex quota. An optional Full harness mode uses MCP to let ChatGPT work with the current task's files, terminal, and tools, with approvals.
Best for
CLIProxyAPI
- Developers who already use OpenAI- or Claude-compatible tools and want to route them to other providers
- People who hold several CLI accounts and want one local endpoint for them
- Users comfortable editing configuration files and running a server
codex-chatgpt-web
- Developers who already pay for ChatGPT and want to use its web models inside Codex
- People who want Codex's model picker to include ChatGPT Web models, including Pro versions where the account exposes them
- Users comfortable running an unofficial browser-based integration on a trusted personal machine
Strengths
CLIProxyAPI
- Supports many providers behind one set of compatible API formats
- Open source under the MIT license with a public release history
- Has a desktop companion client, EasyCLIProxyAPI, mentioned in the README
codex-chatgpt-web
- The README says the app includes its own browser and runtime, so no separate Chrome, Node, or Bun install is needed
- Keeps the Codex interface, tasks, images, and streaming, per the README
- Full harness connects through an outbound tunnel, so it does not open an inbound port or require router forwarding
Not ideal for
CLIProxyAPI
- Non-technical users who need a point-and-click app, since setup is done through the command line and config files
- Anyone who needs guaranteed uptime or official support, because it depends on third-party account access that the README does not guarantee
- Users who want to avoid provider terms-of-service risk, since the README does not address how the provider accounts are authorized beyond OAuth and login options
codex-chatgpt-web
- Teams that need a supported, stable API: the README says this is unofficial browser automation, not an OpenAI API, and UI changes can break it
- Anyone sharing a computer or unable to protect the launcher's login profile, since browser state is a sensitive login artifact
- Users who need platforms beyond macOS 13+, Windows x64, and Linux x64, which are the documented release targets
Trade-offs
CLIProxyAPI
- Model availability varies by channel and account, according to the README
- Relies on account logins and OAuth flows that may change or be restricted by providers
- README is long and partly promotional from sponsors, so setup details must be checked in the full documentation
codex-chatgpt-web
- Unofficial browser automation: selector or UI changes on ChatGPT's side can break it, and the README says drift fails explicitly rather than silently switching
- Usage limits and context windows depend on your account type and selected effort, and are described in a linked discussion rather than fixed numbers
- Builds are not yet platform-signed, so Gatekeeper or SmartScreen may show warnings
Getting started
CLIProxyAPI
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/router-for-me/CLIProxyAPIcodex-chatgpt-web
macOS / Linux terminal install
curl -fsSL https://github.com/miuuyy/codex-chatgpt-web/releases/latest/download/install-launcher.sh | shWindows PowerShell install
irm https://github.com/miuuyy/codex-chatgpt-web/releases/latest/download/install-launcher.ps1 | iexFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between CLIProxyAPI and codex-chatgpt-web?
CLIProxyAPI: A local proxy server that exposes CLI and web AI accounts as OpenAI, Gemini, or Claude compatible APIs. codex-chatgpt-web: Lets Codex use your signed-in ChatGPT Web models (including Pro) as its model, without using Codex quota. CLIProxyAPI suits developers who already use openai- or claude-compatible tools and want to route them to other providers, while codex-chatgpt-web suits developers who already pay for chatgpt and want to use its web models inside codex.
Are CLIProxyAPI and codex-chatgpt-web free?
CLIProxyAPI: Free and open source. codex-chatgpt-web: Free and open source.
Is CLIProxyAPI or codex-chatgpt-web more popular?
CLIProxyAPI has more GitHub stars (57.3k) than codex-chatgpt-web (15.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to CLIProxyAPI and codex-chatgpt-web?
Other options people compare them with include One API, DeepWiki, CC Switch, Orca, OmniRoute.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.